Franklin Street sits at the northern edge of campus and it is the most famous stretch of pavement in Chapel Hill. Many of the businesses on Franklin Street cater to students.
Students often rush Franklin Street after a win against Duke in basketball. Chapel Hill’s Homegrown Halloween event, which at its peak attracted nearly 32,000 college students from across the state, is held on Franklin Street.
“The number one piece of I give is just try to find your people, because I think people make traditions more so than anything else,” Manav Patel, a 2023 graduate, said. “Being able to find your people to cherish those memories and form your own traditions and your own experiences is what I think is really important.”
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A line of community members could be seen outside the Ben & Jerry's on Franklin Street all afternoon on Monday. According to Felicia Ross, general manager of the Chapel Hill Ben & Jerry’s, thousands of people went to the ice cream shop to get their free ice cream during Free Cone Day, which all Ben & Jerry's celebrate to thank customers for their support.
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At the Chapel Hill Town Council meeting on Wednesday, there were seven items on the agenda, including a discussion on the redevelopment of the affordable housing complex Trinity Court, two concept plan reviews, appointments to three Town boards and other land use items. The Town Council also heard from numerous community residents and UNC students during public comment regarding the preservation of The Purple Bowl in Chapel Hill.
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Bul Box, a fast, casual Asian cuisine restaurant, opened its newest location on West Franklin Street on Monday, March 20. Jaeyeon Kim, Bul Box's director of operations, described the restaurant as an “Asian Chipotle,” where you can order signature boxes named after cities like “Tokyo Box” or “Shanghai Box." You can also create your own with chosen ingredients.
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Julian's College Shop has been owned and operated by the Julian family for the past 80 years — since Maurice Julian opened the original in 1942. Currently, the store is owned by his son and international award-winning designer Alexander Julian. It is managed by Bart Fox, Maurice Julian's grandson.
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"We get it – the FOMO is real. Watching your peers travel while you're kicking back in your shared college town can put a damper on the relaxation that we are supposed to be enjoying. To combat the ultimate Spring Break FOMO, here's a comprehensive guide to having fun even if you're staying on Tar Heel territory over break."
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Cadence, an all-female-presenting a cappella group on campus, will hold Power in Purple, their first-ever benefit concert, in honor of Women’s History Month this Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Local 506 on Franklin Street.
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Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, a Delaware-based chain, is set to open a location in Chapel Hill at 127 E. Franklin St. on March 9. The location will be between Blue Horn Lounge and Cold Stone Creamery.
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The intersection of Franklin and Columbia streets, one of the busiest and most prominent intersections in Chapel Hill, currently has three empty storefronts. However, new tenants and continued construction suggest a more bustling street corner could soon come. Three of the corners of the intersection — Seafood Destiny, MidiCi Italian Kitchen and the upcoming Raising Cane’s location — are all currently not open for business.
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Chapel Hill's first-ever and highly-anticipated Crumbl Cookies held a grand opening for its Franklin Street on Feb. 10. After months of speculation about when the cookie store would open, community members, Town officials, members of the media and law enforcement gathered to witness the big event.
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After a series of delays, Chapel Hill Transit is beginning to receive the new equipment needed to get Next Bus live bus tracking running again. Transit users have been without a real-time tracking system since 3G networks were deactivated in February 2022.
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The distillery produced a wide variety of liquors, including vodka, gin, unaged whisky and wheat whiskey. Visitors were offered a tour of the distillery on Friday and Saturday nights, where they could try samples of liquors and learn about the distillation process and various spirits.
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Saxsquatch, a saxophone-wielding, Bigfoot-costume-wearing performer, has amassed a significant social media following and has even appeared on the Tonight Show — but he owes his origins to Chapel Hill.
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Ay Por Dios! Mexican Bistro, an upscale Mexican fusion restaurant, will open on West Franklin Street early this year. The restaurant combines food from Oaxaca, a city in Mexico, and Spain, but also offers food from other cuisines, such as sushi.
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Downtown Chapel Hill and Franklin Street have recently welcomed new businesses selling goods ranging from crystals and locally-made art to men's clothing and home goods.
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